Neuchâtel Hotels – Hotel La Maison du Prussien

The name of this hotel and restaurant, a converted brewery by a spectacular gorge, refers to the time when the region was part of Prussia. The 18th-century building has been sympathetically restored, with plain stone walls and exposed beams; romantic bedrooms with modern, luxurious bathrooms. NAu Gor du Vauseyon, 2006 Neuchâtel NE.

Porto Ronco Hotels – Hotel La Rocca

The Rocca’s garden offer unbeatable views of Lake Maggiore from its hillside position by Porto Ronco, a writers’ and artists’ colony. The hotel is cosy, with a bar and terrace area, and holds occasional themed evenings with accordion music and barbecues. The refurbished bedrooms are bright and airy; all have balconies. N6613 Porto Ronco, Ascona TI

Orselina Hotels – Hotel Mirafiori

It looks like many other holiday hotels in the popular Locarno area, high above Lake Maggiore. Yet the Mirafiori stands out for its warm welcome, its lush garden with swimming pool (superb views), and its excellent regional cooking. Some bedrooms are in hillside annexes; one is in its own, miniature cottage. N6644 Orselina, Via Al Parco TI.

Schangnau im Emmenta Hotels – Hotel Kemmeriboden Bad

Set in a beautiful valley, this was originally built over a century ago for people coming to the sulphur springs. Now visitors come for much more, including fishing, walking, skiing and mountain climbing. The bedrooms are traditional, and some can sleep up to six. Lots of things for children to do. N6197 Schangnau im Emmental.

SCHÖNBÜHL BEI BERN Hotels – Hotel Schönbühl

A typical village hotel, with wood-panelled walls and a happy mix of antique and modern furniture. N3322 Schönbühl bei Bern BE.

STANS Hotels – Hotel Engel

This no-nonsense inn set between a lake and a mountain is under new management and has been rebuilt. N6370 Stans, am Dorfplatz NW.

VADUZ Hotels – Hotel Gasthof Löwen

See the 600-year-old fresco in this historic inn. Beautiful carpets, antiques and luxurious bathrooms. NHerrengasse 35, 9490 Vaduz FL.

TAVERNE Hotels – Hotel Ristorante Motto del Gallo

In an industrial area near a motorway, but stupendous food. Worth staying a night. N6807 Taverne-Lugano TI.

St Moritz Hotels – Hotel Landhotel Meierei

Surely the most romantic location in St Moritz for a hotel: it sits on the opposite shore of the lake from the town, but only a ten-minute walk away. Great views, especially at night, when the lights of St Moritz twinkle in the distance. The restaurant offers traditional Swiss food with modern twists. N7500 St Moritz GR.

Zermatt Hotels – Romantik Hotel Julen

A proper family hotel, with resident children and a working sheepdog. The bedrooms are lavish; some at the top have their own sitting area. Don’t miss the Schaeferstube (sheep room). The garden is large, and there are marvellous views of the Matterhorn. Adventure pool and many fitness facilities. N3920 Zermatt VS.

Stein am Rhein Hotels – Hotel Rheinfels

This ancient hostelry is by the river next to the bridge, with the terrace restaurant jutting out over the water. There is a medieval atmosphere: creaky wooden stairs, full-sized suits of armour, and old beams. Edi Schwegler’s food is very popular, especially his fish and game in season. Bedrooms are functional. N8260 Stein am Rhein SH.

Zurich Hotels – Claridge Hotel Tiefenau

Zurich is short on unusual hotels and sadly, this discreet 19thcentury house near the university doesn’t buck the trend. But it’s got a homely feel, with plants and comfy sofas in the bar and library. Rooms are fully business-equipped; bathrooms small but luxurious. Local dishes feature in the restaurant. N8032 Zurich, Steinwiesstr 8-10 ZH.

Helmhaus Hotel

Family-run small hotel in peaceful position near business district. Friendly welcome, relaxed atmosphere, good breakfasts. N8001 Zurich, Schifflände 30 ZH.

You can hardly believe you are just seven minutes’ drive from the centre of Zurich as you sit in the serene gardens of this 300-year-old lakeside house or wander through its spacious reception area, with antiques and paintings. Massive beds, white marble bathrooms. Michelin-starred restaurant, Le Pavillon. 8700 Küsnacht-Zurich, Seestr 80 ZH

Lenzerheide Hotels – Hotel Romantik Maiensässhotel Guarda Val

Standing in the middle of the pastures above Lenzerheide, this unique inn was created out of abandoned farmbuildings in the late 1960s. It now has many faithful regulars who return throughout the year and expect to stay in the same room. Bedrooms are stylish. Local dishes in the restaurant. 7078 Lenzerheide, Postfach 32.

Laax Hotels – Hotel Pöstli

A charming stone building with green shutters in the delightful upper Rhine village of Laax. In 1978, marketing man Peter Panier came home and created this inn because he wanted ‘the kind of hotel that I always wanted to stay in’. Now under new management. Food is traditional Swiss, and each bedroom is different – one of the singles has a sleigh bed. 7031 Laax GR.

Lugano Hotels – Hotel Villa Principe Leopoldo & Residence

This former holiday home of Leopold of Hapsburg has stunning views of Lugano, the mountains and the lake, and a scented, flower-covered terrace. It is well preserved, and decorated with portraits, busts and sporting prints. The bedrooms (all junior suites) are luxurious. Imaginative food. 6900 Lugano, Via Montalbano 5, TI.

LUCERNE LUZERN Hotels – Hotel Baslertor

An unexpected bonus in this pleasant spot is the outdoor swimming pool. There is a cocktail bar and a cosy restaurant. 6003 Luzern, Pfistergasse 17 LU.

MARTIGNY Hotels – Hotel Le Forum

A popular stop-over from Italy to France. The food is first-rate and the welcome so warm you won’t notice the uninspiring building. 1920 Martigny, Av du Grand-St-Bernard VS.

MALANS Hotels – Hotel Weisskreuz

The charming traditional inn is popular with locals and visitors. Good regional food. Modern bedrooms; excellent bathrooms. 7208 Malans GR.

MORCOTE Hotels – Hotel Carina Carlton

In this charming location on the Lugano, you can have dinner sitting over the water. The terraced garden has a swimming pool. Church bells ring 66 times at 6am. 6922 Morcote TI.

Luzern Hotels – Hotel Rebstock

Each room is different in this 600-year-old hotel. Owner and art-collector Claudia Moser has covered the place in pictures. The three very different, but equally excellent restaurants serve local specialities. The breakfast buffet, featuring ten different kinds of bread and piles of fruit, is a dream. 6006 Luzern, St Leodegarstr. 3

Les Marécottes Hotels – Hotel Aux Mille Etoiles

This is very much a family hotel – among the 25 rooms is a good selection of junior suites and family rooms. Ingrid Berner- Hol, one of the extended family who run the place, produces a newsletter every day with suggestions for ski trips, hikes and a weather report. Heated indoor swimming pool. 1923 Les Marécottes VS.

Madulain Hotels – Hotel Stüva Colani

Set in the middle of a village, this 200-year-old building has been opened up and beautifully modernised. The bright, airy Tavolini restaurant has a pasta menu perfect for children; for gastronomes, there is a separate gourmet restaurant. The hotel decoration blends old and new, with slate floors and pastel furnishings. 7523 Madulain GR.

Murten Meyriez Hotels – Hotel Le Vieux Manoir au Lac

A French general built this lakeside manor house about a century ago. Each of the elegant bedrooms has a sitting area; two hexagonal suites in the old tower overlook the hotel’s park and lake. There is a conservatory restaurant, and a beautiful breakfast room. The medieval town of Murten is a short drive away. 3280 Murten-Meyriez FR.

RONCO Hotels – Hotel Albergo Ronco

Fantastic views over Lake Maggiore. The home-made pasta is delicious; cakes can be eaten on the vine-covered terrace. 6622 Ronco s/Ascona TI.

SATIGNY Hotels – Hotel Domaine de Châteauvieux

Sample wonderful food and local wines in this popular old farmhouse. Plain bedrooms; generous breakfasts. 1242 Satigny, Peney-Dessus GE.

SAAS FEE Hotels – Hotel Fletschhorn Waldhotel

Stunning views (the hotel is located at around 1,800m/5,900ft) and splendid French cuisine. Delightful bedrooms. 3906 Saas Fee VS.

SCHAFFHAUSEN Hotels – Rheinhotel

Fischerzunft Has one of the most acclaimed restaurants in the country, recently rebuilt. The bedrooms are chic. 8200 Schaffhausen, Rheinquai 8 SH.

Grindelwald is the only one of this region’s resorts accessible by car, so walkers and skiers flock to this hotel; many return regularly. Packed lunches are provided, and staff can advise on trails and mountain guides. In the lively restaurant, second helpings always offered. Most bedrooms are spacious. N818 Grindelwald BE.

Gruyères Hotels- Hotel Hostellerie des Chevaliers

Having been away for 20 years, the Corbot family took over their mountain inn again in 1998, but the management is now in the hands of Restaurant le Chalet Gruyères. The bedrooms have magnificent views of the meadows and mountains around this medieval town; bathrooms are functional. 1663 Gruyères FR.

ERMATIGEN Hotels- Hotel Adler

Dating from 1270, this tall, half-timbered building is the oldest inn in Thurgau. Try the fish dishes in the wood-panelled dining room. Dorfplatz, 8272 Ermatigen TG

Hirschen Hotel

A charming old lakeside inn where you can eat delicious fish and game while watching the boats on Lake Constance, shaded beneath white parasols and sycamore trees. 8272 Ermatigen TG.

FLIMS AT FIDAZ Hotels- Hotel Fidazerhof

You can have a seriously healthy time in this ancient inn, with massage, reflexology, and vegetarian meals provided. 7019 Flims-Fidaz GR.

GENEVA Hotels- Hotel Tiffany

This is a warm and well-liked hotel, close to the Stock Exchange. Decorations very Art Nouveau; the best bedrooms are at the top. 1 rue des Marbriers, 1204 Geneva GE.

Guarda Hotels- Hotel Meisser

Built in 1645 as a farmhouse, this was converted to an inn by the present owner’s greatgrandfather. Although tiny, Guarda is a popular tourist spot due to its decorated houses and local craftsmen. You can enjoy sweeping views while eating gastronomic food on the terrace, or simpler grills in the garden. All the rooms are different. 7545 Guarda GR.

Klosters Hotels- Hotel Chesa Grischuna

Very close to the Gotschnagrat-Parsenn cable car, this was originally a railway hotel. Now it swarms with visitors. It is a natural après-ski meeting place, with a bar, a sitting room with games, and a restaurant serving local food as well as caviar. Range of summer activities added recently. 7250 Klosters Platz GR

Interlaken Hotels- Hotel Hirschen

Despite modern renovation, ancient timbers survive at this very welcoming, traditional inn, whose vast overhanging roof shelters a pavement terrace. Inside is a popular restaurant and a snug sitting room, and three upper stories of pleasantly decorated bedrooms. Some have balconies with views of the Jungfrau peak. 3800 Interlaken-Matten BE.

Klosters Hotels- Hotel Walserhof

Although the hotel is on the main road, all the bedrooms look out on to fields. Chef Beat Bolliger, one of Switzerland’s best, provides a wide range of fine foods in the pretty restaurant, including his famous stuffed ravioli. Bedrooms are comfortable and bathrooms luxurious. Experience it while you can. 7250 Klosters Platz GR.

GSTAAD Hotels- Hotel Olden

Farmers and jetsetters alike love this place. Local specialities as well as international dishes. Charming bedrooms. Large, quiet garden. 3780 Gstaad BE.

LEUKERBAD Hotels- Hotel Les Sources des Alpes

A marvellously luxurious place: delicious unfattening food, thermal springwater swimming pools and lots of spa treatments. 3954 Leukerbad VS.

KANDERSTEG Hotels- Hotel Ruedihus

Like a living museum, in the meadows beneath the mountains. Four-poster beds, ‘Grandma’s’ jam, and no Coca-Cola – heavenly. 3718 Kandersteg BE.

LUGANO Hotels- Romantik Hotel Ticino

‘Art and Gastronomy’ is the motto at this 500-year-old palazzo. 6901 Lugano, Piazza Cioccaro 1 TI.

Choosing a room at this extraordinary hotel is an aesthetic challenge: each has been decorated by a different Swiss artist. Room 8 has Carigiet landscapes, and there are two Gimmi nudes in No.5. Bathrooms are luxurious. The gourmet restaurant is well known; people travel from St Moritz to sample specialities such as beef marinated in hay and herbs. 7505 Celerina GR.

Confignon Hotels – Hotel Auberge de Confignon

Combine rural peace with city sightseeing. The traffic-free village of Confignon is so close to Geneva that you can get into the city on the trolley-bus; there are views over the town and the Salève mountains. The simple inn is also an animated village bar. Italianbased food is cooked by the owner. All the bedrooms have been renovated. 1232 Confignon, Place de l’Eglise 6 GE.

BRÜNIG PASS Hotels – Hotel Brünig Kulm

At about 1,000m (3,330ft), the views from this simple chalet-style inn are fantastic. It is much favoured by skiers and walkers. Meals are substantial. 3860 Brunig BE.

DAVOS Hotels -  Hotel Larix

This peaceful chalet hotel is furnished with the owners’ possessions. The location is convenient for the Jakobshorn ski lifts. 7270 Davos-Platz, Albertistr 9 GR

CHÂTEAU-D’OEX Hotels – Hotel Bon Accueil

A typical Swiss chalet with open fires, good food and stunning views over the fields and mountains. Good for walking holidays. 1660 Château-d’Oex VD.

DELÉMONT Hotels – Hotel  Du Midi

This award-winning hotel provides excellent food in a brasserie, a restaurant and a gourmet dining room; Mediterranean influences. The bedrooms are pleasant. 2800 Delémont JU.

Gottlieben Hotels – Hotel Romantik Hotel Krone

This restful hotel is set in the pretty village of Gottlieben, which dates from the 12th century; a short stroll along little lanes on the banks of the Rhine takes you past half-timbered houses and a monastery. Inside, there are some well-furnished bedrooms at the front with a view of the river streaming past outside; those in the back extension are plainer. 8274 Gottlieben TG.

Grosshöchstetten Hotels – Hotel Sternen

 This old farmhouse has been a village inn since the early 19th century, and it’s still a classic, complete with a bowling alley. Its traditional decor make it a popular place with the diplomatic set from Bern, only 25km (19 miles) away. The new chef worked at London’s Dorchester Hotel. Pleasant, simple bedrooms. 3506 Grosshöchstetten BE.

The building dates from 1500, but it has been a hotel for only ten years. The proprietor, a local, has made it thoroughly comfortable, and it is especially popular with families. All the bedrooms are differently done out – one has a four-poster bed. Delicious Rösti and a range of French and German dishes in the restaurant. 3715 Adelboden BE.

Appenzell Hotels – Romantik Hotel Säntis

Colourful folk-art patterns adorn the outside of this lively inn. The restaurant serves local cheeses and wines, but the specialities are lake fish and sausages. Of the bedrooms, No.242 is very popular – it has a frilly four-poster. am Landsgemeindeplatz, 9050 Appenzell AI.

Altendorf Hotels – Hotel Seehotel Hecht

This popular place on the shores of Lake Zurich has been an inn since the 15th century. Today, the Hecht’s seafood cuisine, served in a modern extension and outdoor terrace, draws people from all around – many come by boat. Accommodation is in the older part of the house. Simple, wood-panelled bedrooms; basic bathrooms. 8852 Altendorf SZ

ARBON AM BODENSEE Hotels – Hotel Gastof Frohsinn

A beer drinkers’ paradise: the three-storied building is a brewery as well as an hotel. The basement is a beer cellar, with wooden benches and a vaulted ceiling. Some 500 litres (110 gal) of lager are produced twice a week, with a stronger brown beer in winter. Rooms are plain and neat; vegetarian dishes. 9320 Arbon, Romanshornerstr 15 TG.

AROSA Hotels – Hotel Belri

From this former finishing school at the top of Arosa, you can ‘ski out, ski back’. The lifts to Weisshorn and Hornli are close. 7050 Innerarosa, Arosa GR.

BASEL Hotels – Hotel Teufelhof

Run by theatre people. Each room is designed by the owner, who is an artist. Comfortable. 4051 Basel, Leonhardsgraben 47–49 BS.

Hotel Helvetia

Known for its seafood and the Red Ox Bar. It’s not overly pretty, but the bedrooms are sleek. It is close to the station and air terminal. 4051 Basel, Küchengasse 13 BS

BÖTTSTEIN Hotels – Hotel Schloss Böttstein

Built in 1250, this castle was refurbished in 1974. Comfortable bedrooms. The menu is international, with a French slant. 5315 Böttstein AG.

Bever Hotels – Hotel Chesa Salis

The fine 16th-century house was remodelled in the 1870s, and many rooms look like part of a giant doll’s house. One room, for private parties, is completely wood-panelled, with tiny windows; one bedroom is painted like a music box, another has very low beams. Classic French and Italian cuisine, as well as local dishes. 7502 Bever GR

Champex Lac Hotels – Hotel Belvédère

Eccentric and informal, but comfortable, with a mish-mash of artifacts hanging from the ceilings and walls. The owner has several fighting cows, called Queens, to be found only in this area, and he has a video to tell you all about it. Fine country cooking and glorious views from the bar’s stone terrace. 1938 Champex-Lac VS.

Switzerland has always been a highly popular European tourist destination, and, not surprisingly, its hoteliers are famous for their excellent and enthusiastic house-keeping. It is all too easy to think of Switzerland as mountains, lush valleys and chalet hotels. But it has some smart town hotels, too, and some beautiful lakeside ones.

WE DIVIDE Switzerland into five regions:

Western, Northern, Central, Eastern and Southern. (In fact, the country is subdivided into 26 cantons.)

Western Switzerland

This comprises Suisse Romande and Bern. Suisse Romande is the Frenchspeaking area of the country and, in Geneva, which is culturally more French than the rest of the country, there are some very sophisticated hotels. But you can also find charming rural retreats and country house hotels nearby. Perhaps the best-known Alpine holiday region, the Bernese Alps, offers everyone’s idea of mountain scenery and chic resorts.

Northern Switzerland

Separated from Germany and Austria by the Rhine and Lake Constance, this region encompasses Basel and the surrounding cantons. The main language is German, but there are French influences. Basel itself has its share of good hotels and there is no shortage of enchanting places to stay on beautiful Lake Constance.

Central Switzerland

This is William Tell country. It takes in Lucerne, which is perhaps the country’s most visited city. It has beautiful scenery and a wide choice of inns and hotels.

Eastern Switzerland

The least densely populated area of the country, Eastern Switzerland boasts some 360 sq km (140 sq miles) of glacier, and the fashionable ski resorts of Klosters and St Moritz. Apart from many charming winter sports hotels, there are some lovely country inns, too.

Southern Switzerland

This includes Valais and Ticino. Valais contains some of the most dramatic and famous mountain scenery in the country: here, for example, is the village of Zermatta, dominated by the famous pyramid-shaped peak of the Matterhorn. It is also a very productive winegrowing region.

Magical Ticino, with its sunshine, lakes, mountains and flowers, has a number of beguiling lakeside inns.

FOOD AND DRINK

CHEESE AND chocolate are synonymous with Switzerland, but each region has its own particular specialities. There are more than a hundred different varieties of cheese made in individual dairies, and the national dish is fondue. Lake fish are often on the menu; so also is Rösti, a delicious fried potato cake, and raclette, shavings of melted cheese. If you are feeling particularly hungry, try the Berneplatte, the classic dish of Bern which consists typically of a huge pile of sauerkraut (pickled cabbage) topped with sausages, ham and other ingredients. In the south, risotto and polenta are very popular. All over the country you will find delicious patisseries. The commonest delicacy is the cream-filled gugelhopf. The first chocolate factory in Switzerland opened in 1819. Swiss chocolate is considered to be the best in the world and, perhaps not surprisingly, the Swiss eat and drink more chocolate per capita than any other nation. In 1875, milk chocolate was invented here, and in 1879 the first chocolate bar was made.

Most of the wine produced in the country is white, and is best drunk when young. There are more than 300 small wine-growing areas spread over the country. In the French-speaking part, try Fendant or Johannisberg. In the German-speaking there are some good dry reds. The beer is good, too. Helles is light, Dunkles dark.

Kirsch is the national ‘hard’ drink, made from cherry stones, with a variety of flavourings. In the Italianspeaking south of the country you will find Grappa.

BREAKFAST is usually a helpyourself buffet and consists of breads, cold meats, cereals, fruit and cheeses. In most hotels the ‘double bed’ is in fact two single beds pushed together with two single duvets. In the German-speaking regions, the stube, or bar, is the focal point of many of the hotels and inns; in the Italianspeaking area, grottos are the equivalent.

Language in Switzerland

English is spoken by most of the population as a second language.

Currency in Switzerland

The Swiss franc, written ‘F’ or ‘SF’.

Shops in Switzerland

Normal shop hours are from 8am–12pm and 1:30–6:30pm. Saturday closing is at 11am except in the large cities.

Tipping in Switzerland

A 15 per cent service charge is added to all hotel and restaurant bills. You only need leave more if you feel that the service has been unusually good.

Telephoning in Switzerland

If you wish to make a phone call from Switzerland, dial the full area code. To call Switzerland from the UK, first dial the international code, 00 41 (from the US, 011 41), as usual omitting the first zero of the country area code.

Public holidays

1 January; Good Friday; Easter Monday; Ascension Day; Whit Monday; 1 August; 25 and 26 December.

This spacious hotel in Josefstadt, an unspoilt baroque part of the city, is only ten minutes’ walk from central Vienna. Owner Otto Ernst Wiesenthal, a seasoned traveller, has decorated the place according to his own definite tastes: a happy mix of antique and modern pieces. Friendly and helpful service; rooftop views over the city. 1070 Wien, Kirchengasse 41.

Hotel König von Ungarn

Right in the centre of the old city, very close to St Stephen’s Cathedral, and extremely popular. The building dates from the 18th century; inside, chandeliers, portraits and an enclosed courtyard all add to its charm. The bedrooms are comfortable but not over-grand. The restaurant serves traditional Austrian cuisine. 1010 Wien, Schulerstr. 10

Hotel Altwienerhof

Although located in an unfashionable part of Vienna, the Altwienerhof is special. Its restaurant is visited by gourmets from all over the world (closed 1-21 Jan). The wine list is very good too. The rooms are sumptuous, and breakfast can be taken in the conservatory or the garden. Bargain prices with half-board. 1150 Wien, Herklotzgasse 6.

Hotel Römischer Kaiser Wien

Here is authentic oldworld flavour in a landmark Baroque building: there are chandeliers, arches, mouldings and giltwork in abundance. The hotel is centrally located in a narrow street just off the Kärntnerstrasse. If you are arriving by car, use the entrance on Krugerstrasse. 1010 Wien, Annagasse 16.

WIEN Hotels – VIENNA Hotel

Hotel am Schubertring

A central hotel, near the Staatsoper and Konzerthaus, this is a favourite of visiting artists and musicians. Quiet bedrooms. 1010 Wien, Schubertring 11.

The distinctive 18th-century wooden-shingled inn, set in the centre of the village, has something for everyone. Families come for skiing, locals drop in for a drink, and in the summer it is popular with couples. The old house is traditional, but the annex very modern. The restaurant is popular with locals. 6867 Schwarzenberg. Map

Seefeld Hotels – Hotel Viktoria

Paul and Andrea Kirchmair run one of Austria’s smallest 5-star hotels. Quality abounds, although the taste sometimes inclines to the kitsch, with extravagantly themed suites like the chocolate-boxy Montmartre, the Dolce Vita, with bold colours and Spanish avant-garde furniture, and the 5 Tibetans, with its Chinese screen, black lacquer furniture and bold red flower fabric. 6100 Seefeld, Geigenbühelweg 589.

Sebersdorf Hotels – Hotel Schlosshotel Obermayerhofen

In the family of the Counts Kottulinksy since 1777, this fine castle has been a hotel only since the mid-1980s. Accommodation is wonderfully luxurious, with four-poster beds and lavish bathrooms. Chandeliers, a marvellous 18th-century jungle fresco and a private chapel add to the opulence. 8272 Sebersdorf.

Weissenkirchen Hotels – Hotel Raffelsbergerhof

Smothered in wisteria and vines, this village inn used to be a ship-master’s house, and the horses that pulled the barges up the Danube were stabled here. It is full of intriguing objects collected by the present owner’s father; even the light-fittings are worth a second look. Charming bedrooms. 3610 Weissenkirchen.

MITTERSILL Hotels – Hotel Nationalparkhotel Felben

Children’s activities, a profusion of farm animals, large bedrooms and heated pool make this perfect for families. 5730 Mittersill.

SALZBURG Hotels – Hotel Hotel Zistelalm

High on the Gaisberg crag and with walls covered in antlers, crackling log fires in winter and year-round views over the city. 5026 Saltzburg, Gaisberg 16

OBDACH Hotels – Hotel Judenburger Hütte

Sports lovers flock to this mountain haven near the small town of Obdach: tennis courts, swimming pools and skiing. 8742 St Wolfgang am Zirbitz

ST ANTON AM ARLBERG Hotels – Hotel St Antoner Hof

Four-poster beds, painted furniture, and an indoor pool cleverly mix the lavish with the traditional. New Austrian cuisine. 6580 St Anton am Arlberg

SCHARDING Hotels – Hotel Förstingers Wirtshaus

The 17th-century tavern retains old beams and vaulted ceilings. 4780 Scharding am Inn, Unterer Stadtplatz 3.

WÖRTHERSEE Hotels – Hotel Schloss Hallegg

This 800-year-old castle offers wonderful views. Vast bedrooms. Summer only. 9201 Krumpendorf am Wörthersee, Halleggerstr. 131

ZELL AM SEE Hotels – Hotel ‘Der Metzgerwirt’

The main building is more than 500 years old. Rooms in the new annexe look onto a courtyard and rose garden. 5700 Zell am See, Saalfeldnerstr. 5.

A wonderful contrast to the busy lakeside resort of St Wolfgang, this elegant villa hotel has garden, lake and woods to keep it secluded. At first glance, the house has changed little since the Duke of Windsor stayed here in 1937, but it has been sympathetically modernized. Tennis courts and sauna. 5360 St Wolfgang am see.

St Gilgen Hotels – Hotel Gasthof Zur Post

This charming inn was built in 1415, and its exterior is decorated with a fine painted frieze of a boar hunt. Oak beams and dark stone floors give it a wonderfully historic atmosphere. The comfortable bedrooms have views onto the streets. Mozart’s mother was born in the village, and a fountain and statue in the square honours the composer. 5340 St Gilgen, Mozartplatz 8.

IGLS Hotels – Hotel Schlosshotel Igls

Small castle hotel with a luxurious indoor pool, a formal drawing room, and a cosy bar. Golf, ski areas nearby. 6080 Igls.

INNSBRUCK Hotels – Hotel Weisses Rössl

This establishment, set in a townhouse in central Innsbruck, is popular with the locals too for its well-priced restaurant. 6020 Innsbruck, Kiebachgasse 8 in der Altstadt

KÖTSCHACH-MAUTHEN Hotels – Hotel Landhaus Kellerwand

Owner Sissy Sonnleitner, a self-taught cook, was Austria’s ‘Chef of the Year’ in 1990. First-rate bedrooms. 9640 Kötschach-Mauthen.

KALS Hotels – Hotel Hotel Taurerwirt

Overlooking a beautiful valley, the homely Taurerwirt is perfect for open-air types: hiking, fishing and skiing close by. 9981 Kals am Grossglockner.

KRONBERG AM RUSSBACH Hotels – Hotel Landhaus Kronberghof

Ideal for horse-riding foodies: there are 70 horses, an indoor school and excellent food. Prior booking essential. 2123 Kronberg am Rossbach 3.

LIENZ (TRISTACHERSEE) Hotels – Hotel Parkhotel Tristachersee

Wonderfully spacious, this retreat has a conservatory right on the lake. Luxurious rooms and award-winning restaurant. 9900 Lienz, Tristachersee.

MATTSEE Hotels – Hotel Iglhauser Bräu

Ancient, comfortable family-run hostelry. Guests can windsurf in the nearby lake, sail in the hotel’s dinghies, and row in their boats. 5163 Mattsee, Schlossbergweg 4.

LEOGANG Hotels – Landhotel

Rupertus Jolly holiday hotel with supervised children’s activities in summer. Adults appreciate the sauna, steam bath and gym. 5771 Leogang.

It may once have been a monastery, but little is spartan here. It’s a tasteful city hotel, the walls covered in old mirrors and photographs, public rooms and bedrooms displaying much Biedermeier and Art Nouveau furniture. Most bedrooms overlook the quiet courtyard. Good views of the Hauptplatz from the breakfast room. 4020 Linz, Hauptplatz 19.

Mühldorg Hotels – Hotel Burg Oberrana

High up on a hill above the Danube valley, this white-walled castle has great views all around. More than 900 years old, it also has the oldest Romanesque chapel crypt in – Austria, some 200 years older than the castle itself. The well-restored bedrooms are furnished with antiques. Delicious home-made brandies. 3622 Mühldorg bei Spitz/Donau.

Mayrhofen Hotels – Hotel Landhaus Veronika

Set in meadows just five minutes’ walk from the centre of the popular resort village of Mayrhofen, the Veronika is luxurious but cosy too. It has spacious aparments where guests can relax when bad weather makes outings difficult, and an indoor pool. There is no restaurant, but there are plenty in the village; guests can have breakfast brought to their rooms. 6290 Mayrhofen 250b.

Neustift am Walde Hotels – Hotel Landhaus Fuhrgassl-Huber

Located in a wineproducing village and backing on to a vineyard, this homely pension has a fresh, spacious feel and big, comfortable bedrooms. You can taste the famous Fuhrgass-Huber from the nearby vineyard. The area is peaceful and rural, yet Vienna is only half an hour’s bus and tram ride away. 1190 Wien, Neustift am Walde, Rathstr 24.

Salzburg Hotels  – Hotel Hotel Schloss Mönchstein

Sitting on the Mönchsberg crag above Salzburg, this elegant but friendly castle hotel is popular with both businesspeople and people on holiday. The rooms are well equipped; some have views of the city, and some of the gardens. New restaurant, terrace and bar. 5020 Salzburg, Mönchsberg Park 26

Stadtkrug Hotel

Despite Salzburg’s crowds of visitors, especially in the music season, this hotel retains a reputation for its serene atmosphere and unflustered, personal service. Smart but nononsense bedroom decoration and furnishings. The restaurant is one of the most popular in town; open late during the music festival. 5020 Salzburg, Linzer Gasse 20.